Biography

G E O R G E E N S L EWWW.GEORGEENSLE.COM

George Ensle (pronounced Enslee) is a veteran Texas Singer/Songwriter who began his career in Houston in the late 60s sharing stages with legends Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver. He has since created his own fingerpicking style of Texas Country Folk Storysongs about real people making it in the real world. He has won numerous songwriting awards, been awarded Government grants to teach songwriting, and released 6 albums/CDs in the US and Europe, including a Moviein-Song CD, Small Town Sundown, based on his original story, set in small town Texas.

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Lyrics

Hired Hands

Written By: George Ensle

HIRED HANDSc. G. Ensle 2010

THE OLD COWBOY SAT ON A BARSTOOL DRINKING A COLD LONE STARCNN WAS ON IN THE CORNEROF THAT SMALL TOWN TEXAS BARI SAT DOWN AND SAID "HOWDYIT'S SURE BEEN A HOT ONE TODAY"HE SAID, "I KNOW I'VE BEEN OUT IN ITON THE BACK OF A DAPPLE GRAY."

HE WORE A FADED WORKSHIRTSOAKED WITH A WORKINGMAN' SWEATHIS HANDS WERE HARD BUT HIS FINGERS WERE NIMBLEROLLLING A CIGARRETTEHIS NECK WAS RED AND WRINKLEDWITH DIAMONDS I'D ONCE HEARDARE THE MARK OF A MAN WHO'S LIVED A GOOD LIFESO WHEN HE SPOKE I CAUGHT EVERY WORD

HE SAID, "I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE TO SPEND MY DAYS IN THE SUN WORKING FOR THE BRAND. IT'S A HARD LIFE BUT IT'S THE ONE I CHOSE SO I COULD BE A FREE MAN I LIKE RIDING OUT IN GOD'S OPEN COUNTRY I LIKE LIVING ON THE LAND DOING A GOOD DAY'S WORK FOR A GOOD DAY'S PAY USING THESE HIRED HANDS"

HE SAID, "THESE HIRED HANDS BUILT A RANCHWITH STONE, STEEL AND WOODTHESE HIRED HANDS MAKE THING RIGHT AND MAKE A PROMISE GOOD.THEY STILL COOK ON CAMPFIRESTHEY STILL DRINK FROM STREAMSTHEY'RE STILL MAKING MY LIVINGAND I'M STILL LIVING MY DREAM"

HE SAID, "I'LL ALWAYS BE ONE TO SPEND MY DAYS IN THE SUN WORKING FOR THE BRAND. IT'S A HARD LIFE BUT IT'S THE ONE I CHOOSE SO I CAN BE A FREE MAN I’LL BE RIDING OUT IN GOD'S OPEN COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS MASTER PLAN DOING A GOOD DAY'S WORK FOR A GOOD DAY'S PAY USING THESE HIRED HANDS"

It's a Texas Thang

Written By: George Ensle

"IT’S A TEXAS THANG" words and music by George Ensle c. 2010

We wave "Howdy" to strangersWe tip our hats and say " Yes Maam"We try to be extra neighborlyEvery chance we canSo I'll share the wealth and beautyThat you may partakeOf the many wondermentsHere in the Lone Star State

Now when God blessed TexasHe gave us a clear blue skyWith clouds just made for daydreamingSlowly floating byHe lit our nights with stars big and brightJust made for wishing onIt's a State of mind that you can't find'Til you go to old San Antone

'Cause it's a Texas thang I want y'all to knowWhat it's like living in ParadiseAnd how we come by our braggin' rightsIt's a Texas thangIt's as good as it getsEver wonder why you aint a Texan yet?

We've got our own downhome cookingWe've got your great steaks chicken friedWe've got a Tex-Mex plate that will set you straightBluebell on the sideAnd we've got our own brand of musicMade for holding your baby tightIn an old-time sawdust dancehallBathed in Luckenbach moonlight

Now it's a whole 'nother countryOne thing I never did get clearWhy did we join the UnionWhen we've got all we need right 'chere?

Yea it's a Texas thangI could go on and onAbout those painted sunsets on the Panhandle PlainsThat sweet Hill Country rainThe wind in Big Thicket treesPadre Island in a Gulf Coast breezeIt's new Luccheses and old straw hatsIt's King Ranch pickups it's old CadillacsIt's a Cowgirl on a cuttin'; horseIn a field of Bluebonnets and of courseIt's Longhorns and JackalopesWell everything's biggerOnce you go you'll know

It's a Texas thangThen I'll be willing to betYou'll wonder why you aint a Texas yet.

State of Grace

Written By: George Ensle

State of GraceWords and Music by George Ensle

She feeds the birds outside her Kitchen windowYou know she laid every stone on the old home placeShe’s an old fashioned gal she’s the widowWho lives across the street at a different pace

She gave patience to the world with her childrenShe gave strength to the world with her manShe worked the herd and she read the wordAnd now when she smiles I understand

Chorus: She is one who has touched the lives of many With a kindness fine as tatted lace Who gives when she hasn’t any And lives her days in a state of grace

Now she asks how my family is faringAnd if my dreams are still coming trueIn her parlor filled with her caringAnd old pictures to get her through

Then the sunlight streams in through her windowIn a moment frozen in timeCapturing her ageless beautyWaiting there forever to find

IT MIGHT BE A SUGAR COOKIE OR A PIECE OF FUDGEI COULD FEEL THE WARMTHI COULD FEELTHE LOVEGRANDMA BAKEDINTO EVERY BATCHWEARING THAT APRONSTARTING FROM SCRATCH

IT WAS ALL COTTON SOFT AND WORN USED TO LET ME USE IT FOR MY SUPERMAN CAPE AND HELD ME BEHIND IT WHEN IT THUNDERSTORMED GRANDMA'S APRON HAD POWER GRANDMA'S APRON HAD GRACE

GRANDPA'S VESTWAS CORDUROYWE'D WATCH OLD WESTERNSIN HIS LAZY BOYHE'D REACH DOWN IN THE POCKETAND PULL OUT A TOY.SAYING," MY SIDEKICKS'BEEN A GOOD BOY"

IT MIGHT BE A MARBLELIKE THE EYE OF A CATOR A WHISTLE FROM A BOXOF CRACKERJACKSTHAT VEST HELD HIS SWEET SURPRISESTHAT CAME WITH A WINKFROM HIS TWINKLING EYE

HE USED TO LET ME WEAR IT WHEN I RODE MY STICK HORSE PONY CHASING DOWN OUTLAWS BADGE ON MY CHEST AND WHEN WE TOOK NAPS IN HIS LAZY BOY YOU KNOW GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW THE COWBOY WAY GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW TENDERNESS

SO WHEN IT CAME TIMETO DIVIDE THEIR THINGSBROTHER WANTED THE CARSISTER WANTED THE RINGSI SAID I WANT THEY WAY THEY LOVED AND BLESSEDGIVE ME GRANDMA'S APRON AND GRANDPA'S VEST.

IT MIGHT BE A SUGAR COOKIE OR A PIECE OF FUDGEI COULD FEEL THE WARMTHI COULD FEELTHE LOVEGRANDMA BAKEDINTO EVERY BATCHWEARING THAT APRONSTARTING FROM SCRATCH

IT WAS ALL COTTON SOFT AND WORN USED TO LET ME USE IT FOR MY SUPERMAN CAPE AND HELD ME BEHIND IT WHEN IT THUNDERSTORMED GRANDMA'S APRON HAD POWER GRANDMA'S APRON HAD GRACE

GRANDPA'S VESTWAS CORDUROYWE'D WATCH OLD WESTERNSIN HIS LAZY BOYHE'D REACH DOWN IN THE POCKETAND PULL OUT A TOY.SAYING," MY SIDEKICKS'BEEN A GOOD BOY"

IT MIGHT BE A MARBLELIKE THE EYE OF A CATOR A WHISTLE FROM A BOXOF CRACKERJACKSTHAT VEST HELD HIS SWEET SURPRISESTHAT CAME WITH A WINKFROM HIS TWINKLING EYE

HE USED TO LET ME WEAR IT WHEN I RODE MY STICK HORSE PONY CHASING DOWN OUTLAWS BADGE ON MY CHEST AND WHEN WE TOOK NAPS IN HIS LAZY BOY YOU KNOW GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW THE COWBOY WAY GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW TENDERNESS

SO WHEN IT CAME TIMETO DIVIDE THEIR THINGSBROTHER WANTED THE CARSISTER WANTED THE RINGSI SAID I WANT THEY WAY THEY LOVED AND BLESSEDGIVE ME GRANDMA'S APRON AND GRANDPA'S VEST.

IT MIGHT BE A SUGAR COOKIE OR A PIECE OF FUDGEI COULD FEEL THE WARMTHI COULD FEELTHE LOVEGRANDMA BAKEDINTO EVERY BATCHWEARING THAT APRONSTARTING FROM SCRATCH

IT WAS ALL COTTON SOFT AND WORN USED TO LET ME USE IT FOR MY SUPERMAN CAPE AND HELD ME BEHIND IT WHEN IT THUNDERSTORMED GRANDMA'S APRON HAD POWER GRANDMA'S APRON HAD GRACE

GRANDPA'S VESTWAS CORDUROYWE'D WATCH OLD WESTERNSIN HIS LAZY BOYHE'D REACH DOWN IN THE POCKETAND PULL OUT A TOY.SAYING," MY SIDEKICKS'BEEN A GOOD BOY"

IT MIGHT BE A MARBLELIKE THE EYE OF A CATOR A WHISTLE FROM A BOXOF CRACKERJACKSTHAT VEST HELD HIS SWEET SURPRISESTHAT CAME WITH A WINKFROM HIS TWINKLING EYE

HE USED TO LET ME WEAR IT WHEN I RODE MY STICK HORSE PONY CHASING DOWN OUTLAWS BADGE ON MY CHEST AND WHEN WE TOOK NAPS IN HIS LAZY BOY YOU KNOW GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW THE COWBOY WAY GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW TENDERNESS

SO WHEN IT CAME TIMETO DIVIDE THEIR THINGSBROTHER WANTED THE CARSISTER WANTED THE RINGSI SAID I WANT THEY WAY THEY LOVED AND BLESSEDGIVE ME GRANDMA'S APRON AND GRANDPA'S VEST.

IT MIGHT BE A SUGAR COOKIE OR A PIECE OF FUDGEI COULD FEEL THE WARMTHI COULD FEELTHE LOVEGRANDMA BAKEDINTO EVERY BATCHWEARING THAT APRONSTARTING FROM SCRATCH

IT WAS ALL COTTON SOFT AND WORN USED TO LET ME USE IT FOR MY SUPERMAN CAPE AND HELD ME BEHIND IT WHEN IT THUNDERSTORMED GRANDMA'S APRON HAD POWER GRANDMA'S APRON HAD GRACE

GRANDPA'S VESTWAS CORDUROYWE'D WATCH OLD WESTERNSIN HIS LAZY BOYHE'D REACH DOWN IN THE POCKETAND PULL OUT A TOY.SAYING," MY SIDEKICKS'BEEN A GOOD BOY"

IT MIGHT BE A MARBLELIKE THE EYE OF A CATOR A WHISTLE FROM A BOXOF CRACKERJACKSTHAT VEST HELD HIS SWEET SURPRISESTHAT CAME WITH A WINKFROM HIS TWINKLING EYE

HE USED TO LET ME WEAR IT WHEN I RODE MY STICK HORSE PONY CHASING DOWN OUTLAWS BADGE ON MY CHEST AND WHEN WE TOOK NAPS IN HIS LAZY BOY YOU KNOW GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW THE COWBOY WAY GRANDPA'S VEST KNEW TENDERNESS

SO WHEN IT CAME TIMETO DIVIDE THEIR THINGSBROTHER WANTED THE CARSISTER WANTED THE RINGSI SAID I WANT THEY WAY THEY LOVED AND BLESSEDGIVE ME GRANDMA'S APRON AND GRANDPA'S VEST.

April's Lullaby

MAY YOU ALWAYS SHOW THE WAYLIVE BY THE GOLDEN RULEAND BE KIND TO OTHERS WHO ARE NOT KIND TO YOUMAY YOU LIVE WITH NO REGRETSAND NEVER MISS A CHANCETO TELL SOMEONE YOU LOVE THEMOR ASK SOMEONE TO DANCE

MAY YOU GROW UP STRAIGHT AND STRONGLIKE A COTTONWOOD TREEAND SHINE LIKE A WILDFLOWERFOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEEFEEL THE FREEDOM OF THE WINDAND THE WARMTH OF A HOMEHAVE THE LAUGHTER OF A BEST FRIENDAND SACRED TIME ALONE

Chorus AND NOW YOUR DREAMS ARE WAITING SAY YOUR PRAYERS AND CLOSE YOUR EYESMAY YOU ONE DAY SEE THEM ALL COME TRUEAND ALWAYS KNOW THE WORLD’S A BETTER PLACEBECAUSE OF WHOYOU AREAND THAT THE BEST PART OF ME IS YOU

MAY YOU KNOW THE OLD MAN IN THE MOONAND WISH UPON THE STARSMAY YOUR EYES BE FILLED WITH WONDERFROM FIREFLIES IN A JARMAY YOU HEAR THE RED TAIL CRYAND HEAR THE WHITE WING SINGAND KNOW THERE’S A REASON WHY WE’RE BLESSED WITH ALL THESE THINGS

MAY YOU ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR HEARTWHEN IT’S TIME TO MAKE A CHOICEAND WHEN YOUR PLANS ALL FALL APARTHEAR HIS STILL SMALL VOICETHAT SAYS KEEP BELIEVINGLOVE WILL FIND A WAYAND THAT THE DARKEST NIGHTWILL FIND THE LIGHT OF DAYChorus

Billy Bob's Backyard

Written By: George Ensle

Billy Bob's BackyardWords and Music by George Ensle

Billy Bob wears a ballcap back’rds and aviator shadesBlack grease 'neath his fingernails and a little on his faceWith a semi-toothless smile, He said, "Howdy Do?"I was having second thoughts about what I's about to do.

He's a shadetree mechanic and my alternator was goneHe said,” If you brought one in an hour I'll have her on."Well, I said I had a rebuilt settin' in my trunkHe said, "Pull around back," and that's when I saw Billie's jungle of junk.

Billy Bob's backyard is a packrat's paradiseIt's a redneck collection from a Bubba's way of lifeIt's hillbilly heavenWith an old Rot standing guardOver all them white trash treasuresFilling Billy Bob's backyard.

Four skeeter breedin' tires leanin' up against an ugly shedA Studebaker pickup up on blocks with grass growing in the bedTin roof and warped plywood making a crooked fenceSlimy water standing in a jon boat that's got about a hundered dents.

Rusty rebar and bags of sakcrete that got wet and turned to stoneMotorless lawnmowers by a clothesline haywired ontoHis girlfriend's Harley tanktop and his Harley teeA dead water heater and two lawn chairs with ripped-out strap seats.

(Chorus)

Beer cans beer cans beer cansThrown in scattered pilesChickens peck' in the dirtTo an eight-track playin' "Born to be Wild."

Billy cleared away just enough space to fit my car betweenA satellite dish with a bird nest and a broke down washing machineI was leanin' on a chopper frame watching his sweat and cuss'Neath a torn tarp strung from his mobile home to an old Volkswagen bus.

(Chorus)

Saving Me

Written By: George Ensle

Saving MeWords and music by George Ensle

Here’s me standing up at bat in my first little league gameBefore I lost it when I struck out and dropped my head in shameBut on that long ride home you said I didn’t really loseBecause I went down swinging and made no excuse

Here’s me standing on your shoulders working up the nerve to diveOff into the deep end tears welling up insideBut I made it when you told me those words every child should knowYou said, “I might turn you loose but I’ll never let you go”

Saving me you’ve been saving me In this album by your bed Filled with pictures of me growing up And the ways that I’ve been blessed With your little words of wisdom For my little cries for help That saved me from a scary world And saved me from myself

Here’s you running along beside me on my first two wheel bikeTrying to steer me straight like you’ve done all my lifeYou said, “It’s not about the falling down it’s the climbing back onIts not how far you’ve to go it’s how far you’ve already gone”

Sometimes we let each other down But when all was said and done We stood by one another when they snapped that shutter Forever the father and the son

Now I know you might not understand all I’m saying in this songOr why you’re in your second childhood or why you’re in this nursing homeI guess our roles are changing now I’m taking care of youAnd the pictures in this scrapbook filled with timeless truth

I’ll be saving and I’ll be saving you In this album by my bed And I’ll hold on so now you can let go And know you’ve done your best And I’ll pray for words of wisdom For you’re little cries for help To save you from a scary world and save you from yourself

Coming Back Around

Written By: George Ensle

Coming Back AroundWords and Music by George Ensle

Sweet Texas rain is falling in the hillsFilling streams and shining up old stonesThe sun breaks through to a river’s sights and soundsAnd me and you coming back around

Smooth Texas breeze moves through ancient treesFilling the sky with God’s own poetryAnd then the turtledove sings of beauty to be foundPrecious love is coming back around

So let us rest awhile Let us find our smile We’ll be still and know This is the day the Lord has made Let us rejoice and be glad in it

Fine Texas diamonds are shimmering in the sunFilling your eyes with dreams and memoriesOf the ways eternally we’re boundTo keep on coming back around